{
  "id": 19425108,
  "title": "Old EV batteries could power rural clinics and villages, Nga Kor Ming tells COP31",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/old-ev-batteries-could-power-rural-clinics-and-villages-nga-kor-ming",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T01:18:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/11/old-ev-batteries-could-power-rural-clinics-and-villages-nga-kor-ming-tells-cop31/242761"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia has proposed repurposing retired electric vehicle batteries into energy storage systems to provide reliable electricity to rural communities, indigenous settlements, and healthcare facilities, ensuring the benefits of circular economy reach underserved populations. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming unveiled this \"Circular Equity Dividend\" proposal at the Malaysia Pavilion TED Talk session during COP31. The initiative aims to ensure equitable distribution of circularity benefits, in line with Malaysia's 2025-2035 Circular Economy Blueprint targets of achieving a 40% recycling rate and diverting 53% of waste from landfills. The other two proposals focus on making cities \"Material Banks\" via mandatory Digital Material Passports to track the composition, lifecycle, and reuse potential of materials in industrial products and infrastructure, and replacing conventional landfill fees with Performance-Linked Circular Grants and Municipal Transition Bonds to incentivize local authorities to invest in recycling facilities and sustainable waste management solutions.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Malaysia has proposed repurposing retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries into energy stora...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia proposes repurposing retired EV batteries for rural energy storage.",
    "Minister Nga Kor Ming unveils Circular Equity Dividend proposal at COP31.",
    "Initiative aims for equitable circular economy benefits in underserved areas."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Repurposing retired electric vehicle batteries for rural energy storage shifts the circular economy from mere waste management toward a tool for delivering essential utility services to underserved populations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}